Set Up: Have enough appropriately sized light bulbs
light so that each Scout receiving an award (or each Scout in attendance) will
receive a light bulb to give to his parents to screw into a socket on the string
of lights.

Materials: Long string of large outdoor Christmas
lights (C7 or C9 style) where each light screws into the base and is not
dependent upon other lights in the string.

The string of lights should:

üBe UNPLUGGED

üHave no lights screwed into it (or as many sockets empty as there
are Scouts receiving awards or as there are Scouts in the pack – could have more
than one string... depending on how you want to do it)

Scene – Ask two or more
adult leaders (depends on the length of your string of lights) to come to the
front of the room to hold the string up... OR you could lay the string of lights
across a large table or tables.

Cubmaster: This month we’ve really talked about all the lights around us
at the holidays. I want you to know that you Cub Scouts that are a part of our
pack are bright lights to me at all times. Your shining faces and examples help
me and the other adults all year round – but we seem to notice that more as we
watch your excitement during the holidays.

Your lights have been really shining this month in the work
that you’ve done toward ranks, arrow points, and activity badges.

As awards are
distributed, give each Scout a light bulb. Make sure to include Scouts who might
not be on your list of awards this month. Ask each Scout to give the light bulb
to his parents to take up and put into the string of lights...
OR other adult leaders could add their “lights” as well.

Cubmaster: All of our lights are now part of this long string and when we
add the Cub Scout program (plug in the lights) we are beautiful to see! (replace
non working bulbs at this point... ☺)

Thanks for all of you this month for being a great part of our
pack!

Holiday Lights Advancement Ceremony

Capital Area
Council

Preparation: Have a
Christmas tree with various colored lights. (This can be a cardboard tree with
holes for the lights.) The bulbs should be unscrewed slightly so that they can
be easily turned on at the proper time.

Personnel: Cubmaster (CM) and
Assistant Cubmaster (CA)

CM: As we look at our tree this evening, we see that it is dark, with
only one light on. (Screw in top light.) This is the light which represents
the Webelos Arrow of Light Award.

Let us see if there are boys here tonight who can help light the way
to the top of the tree, to the highest rank in Cub Scouting.

The first step along the Cub Scout trail is the BOBCAT. (Turn on
light at the bottom. If there are any Bobcats to be inducted do it here.) Call
boys and parents forward, present badges to parents to award to sons. Lead
cheer.

Once a boy has achieved this honor, he is ready to climb.

CA: There are 5 achievements to complete for the Tiger rank. They are
Making My Family Special, Where I Live, Keeping Myself Healthy and Safe, How I
Tell It, and Lets Go Outdoors. Each achievement has three parts - a den
activity a family activity, and a Go see It. The following boys have completed
these requirements: Call boys and parents forward and any boys who have earned
any Tiger Track beads, too, present badges to parents to award to sons. Lead
cheer.

Thank you boys. We are now able to turn on the light representing
the Tiger rank. (Turn on next light.)

CM: There are 12 achievements to complete for the rank of Wolf. Some of
these require knowledge of the United States flag, of keeping strong, of safety
and being useful to the family. The following boys have completed these
requirements: Call boys and parents forward and any boys who have earned arrow
points, present badges to parents to award to sons. Lead cheer.

Thank you boys. We are now able to turn on the light representing
the Wolf rank. (Turn on next light.)

CA: As the boy grows older and stronger, he is able to climb higher.
But just as it is a little more difficult to climb the upper branches of a tree,
so the achievements are a little more difficult for the Bear rank. Call boys
and parents forward and any boys who have earned arrow points, present badges to
parents to award to sons. Lead cheer.

Thank you boys. We are now able to turn on the light representing
the Bear rank. (Turn on next light.)

CM: These boys have helped us light our tree, but it is still not quite
as it might be. Since they have received help from their parents and leaders,
let us turn on a light for the parents, too. (Turn on another light.)

Now the boys have reached 4th grade or 5th grade and have more
climbing to do. This last climb will bring them to the top of the tree and the
coveted Arrow of Light. To reach there they must first attain the Webelos
Award. In order to reach the Webelos Award they must earn three activity
badges. Call boys and parents forward, present activity awards to parents to
award to sons. Lead cheer.

Thank you boys as you have learned throughout Cub Scouting you
have helped to make the world brighter. (Turn on another light.)

CA: And now the boys who have earned their Webelos badge and have begun
to learn what Scouting really is. Call boys and parents forward, present
Webelos badges to parents to award to sons. Lead cheer.

We are now able to turn on the light representing the Webelos rank.
(Turn on next light.)

CM: Now our tree is complete. As you have seen, it has taken boys plus
parents and leaders to complete it. With the same effort you have shown before,
keep working for the highest rank in Cub Scouting. Congratulations to you and
your parents for the fine work you have done.

Winter Wonderland

Capital Area
Council

There is something refreshing
about the look of a field or woods after a good snowstorm. It’s the look of a
clean, unblemished land. I’m sure it was this picture that was on the person’s
mind when the term “Winter Wonderland” was first coined. Even when we think of
the words ourselves, I’m sure there’s more than one of us here that thinks of
such a picture. Close your eyes for a moment and think about it… Winter
Wonderland. Winter Wonderland. Winter Wonderland.

Keeping your eyes closed, I
want you to concentrate on the image that comes to mind when I give you another
phrase: Cub Scout Wonderland. Cub Scout Wonderland. Cub Scout Wonderland.

I don’t know about the rest of
you, but the image that comes to mind for me is one of fun. Kids running around
having a good time doing things. But I also see smiles on boys’ faces for
having done things really well. I see the look in their eyes that comes from
having done something they never even thought they’d be able to do. It’s the
look of excitement and wonder. It’s the look of goodness—a healthy, hardy look.

Okay. Now let’s open our eyes
and see these same things in real life. Look around and what do you see? I’ll
tell you what I see. I see you, Cub Scouts, who are pleased with yourselves for
having succeeded beyond measure. I see the parents who are proud of what they
sons are doing and glad that they are part of it. I see the brothers and
sisters who are having almost as much fun as their Cub Scout brothers are
having. It is a sure sign of the success of the Scouting Program and the all of
your hard work.

Tonight we will recognize our
Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts who have worked so hard and achieved
so much.

[For each rank, call off the
boys names, inviting them forward with their parents to receive their awards.]

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